Ruger LCP II .22LR: Tested

Carrying a .22 for self-defense is not for everyone, but enough people go this route that Ruger made the decision to chamber its LCP II in .22 Long Rifle. This version, which carries a $349 suggested retail price, also adds a new feature: Ruger’s Lite Rack system.

Lite Rack sports a new serration pattern at the front and rear of the slide, as well as “cocking ears” at the back of the slide for a better grip. And because the gun is hammer-fired and not striker-fired, it uses a lighter recoil spring as well.

Ruger has added a manual safety to the LCP II .22. Unlike typical thumb safeties, you push forward on this one for Fire. After working with it for a bit I found it to be fairly instinctive and simple to operate. The LCP II .22 also has a magazine disconnect safety.

The Lite Rack version retains the LCP II’s Secure Action fire-control system, with a shorter trigger travel and reset. There’s a lot of take-up, but the pull itself is short. Pull weight on my sample averaged six pounds, nine ounces.

At 5.2 inches long, 0.8 inch wide and weighing a mere 11.2 ounces, it is the perfect size for a pocket gun, and Ruger supplies a pocket holster with the pistol. The frame is glass-reinforced nylon. The stippling on the side panels and grip is just aggressive enough to prevent the gun from shifting in your hand.

The front and rear sights are machined into the slide and feature serrated faces. The rear sight notch is generous enough to make it fast to acquire but not so wide you’ll have a hard time centering the front sight in it.

The pistol ships with one 10-round magazines. My only gripe here is that the feed lips have sharp edges, particularly at the front. Ruger does include a loader with the gun, which should help. The magazine’s base pad is extended just enough to permit you to get two fingers on the gun, and this extension allowed Ruger to fit an extra round into the mag. The magazine does provide last-round hold-open.

Between the small grip and the small magazine release, I found it difficult to drop the magazine cleanly without shifting the pistol considerably from a firing grip, but that’s common on such tiny guns.

The LCP II .22 was accurate for such a small gun, and I found it easy to hit with in drills. Thanks to Lite Rack I think anyone will be able operate this pistol with ease, and with its decent sights and light recoil, they’ll be able to shoot it well, too.

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